“Maintainers” with the medical treatment, area support and patient holding squads established the facility using military tents and field life support systems. Once the treatment areas were established soldiers with the treatment platoon provided laboratory, X-ray, physical therapy, dental, patient holding, sick call and patient administrative services to actual and simulated patients. The three-day event concluded with mass casualty training.

2nd Lt. Erin M. Kertis, the treatment platoon leader for Company C, 703rd BSB, said the exercise was conducted to complete systems checks prior to operating similar facilities during battalion- and brigade-level field training exercises slated for September.

Kertis, who doesn’t claim a hometown on account of being a military brat, said the training was vital because it helped solidify medic teams—trauma, litter-bearing, triage, patient administration and others—and it allowed each team to establish clear lines of communication.

“It’s helped me better understand the roles that the medics have and the roles that the other [support] services have,” said Pfc. Allen J. Gee, a combat medic with Company C., 703rd BSB. “I’ve learned a little bit about the evacuation platoon and [have developed] a better understanding of a hospital setting.”

The Colony, Okla., native, said he gained the most knowledge from his noncommissioned officers, who have experience working in and establishing standard operating procedures for field medical treatment facilities.

While Kertis praised the treatment platoon for their efforts the platoon leader said the exercise was a company effort.

“None of this would have been possible without all the hard work [the soldiers] do for the company each and every day,” Kertis said.